Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-12

Twill announce our marriage 10 my friends"
she took his hand and kissed II. III Is generous
and good OF you" she said 'but It must not be-"
Hetook step nearer TO her. "what do you meang"
q asked
= nc was against my win," she pursued, "that my
ennt concealed the truth from you. did wrong TO
consent 70 lti VIII do wrong no more. Your mother
Is right Alfred After what has happened, not
nc 70 be your wife until my innocence Is proved IL
Is not proved yet"
The angry color began 10 rise in hts face once more
Take care" he said; Il am not In a humor TO be
trlhed with"
y am not trinlng with you" she answered, in low,
sad tones.
"You really mean what you sayg'
~ mean It."
\ sDont be obstinate, Isabel. Take time to con
Yder"
1''You are very kind, Alfred. My duty is plain to
me. will marry you'll you stlll wish it-when my
, good name is restored TO me-not before"
He laid one hand ON her arm and pointed with the
Ather TO the guests In the distance all leaving the
Rent on their way 10 their carriages
2our good name win be restored to you" he said,
ION the day when make you my wife. The worst
eeemy you have cannot associate my name with
asuspclon OF theft Remember that, and think
little before you decide Yon those people there7
Hyou don't change your mind by the time they have
got to the cottage it's goodby between us, and
goodby forever refuse TO wait for you refuse to
accept conditional engagement Wait and think.
They're walking slowly you have got some minutes
more"
He still held her arm watching the guests as they
gradually receded from view. 1t was uat.l they
had all collected In group outside the cottage door
Mat he spoke himself or that he permitted Isabel to
FhAlsal again.
Wow" he said, "you have had your time to get
cool. WIN you take my arm and join those people
with me, or will you say good-by forever"
"Forgive me, Alfred" she began gently II cannot
consent, In justice 10 You, to shelter myself behind
your name. IL is the name of your family and they
have right to expect that you will not degrade It,"
Il want plain answer" he interposed sternly
"Which Is IT. Yes er nor
She looked at him with sad compassionate eyes
Her voice firm she answered him in the one
word that he desired. The word was-"No"
Without speaking to her, without even looking at
her, he turned and walked back TO the COTTAGE
Making his way silently through the group OF Wis
iters-every one OF whom had been informed of
80 had happened by his slster-wlth his head down
An his lips fast closed, he entered the paror and
I rang the bell which communicated with his forensans
rooms at the stables.
"You know that am going abroad on busnessl" he
said, when the man appeared.
"Yes SIR"
II .am going to-day-golng by the night train to
Dol Order the horse to be put to instantly in the
d. Nt Is there anything wanted before offr'
~ lie memorable necessities OF business asserted
their claims through the obedient medium of the
foreman. Chafng at the delay, Hardyman was
Obliged to sit at his desk signing checks and passing
accounts, with the dog cart waiting in the stable
yard.
knock at the door startled him In the middle OF
his work. "Come in! he called out, sharply
He looked up, expecting to one OF the guests or
one of the servants 1t was Moody who entered the
room. Hardyman laid down his pen and fixed his
eyes sternly on the man who had dared to interrupt
8 him.
"What the devil do you want2 he asked.
81 have seen Miss Isabel, and spoken with her y
Moody replied. MIR. Hardyman, believe 1t is in
youEpower TO set this matter right. For the young
ladss sake sir you must not leave England without
d0tng H."
Hardynan turned to his foreman 'Is this fellow
mad or drunky' he asked.
Moody proceeded as calmly and as resolutely as ii
those words had not been spoken. II apologize foI
my intrusion sir. will trouble you with no ex
plantations; will only ask one question Have you
q Srsn0sandum OF the number OF that eSOO note
= which you paid away in Francep
Hardyman lost all control over himself.
'You scoundrel!' he cried have you been prying
into my private aairsl Is IL your business to know
what did in FranceT"
"Is It your vengeance on n woman TO refuse to
al her the number OF a bank noter Moody re
Joined firmly.
That answer forced its way through Hardymans
anger to Hardymans sense of honor He rose and
advanced to Moody For moment the two meI
fac each other in silence. you're bold fellow,
n 4 rdyman, with sudden change from anger t.
4 TIll do the lady Justice I'll look at my pocket
~ put his hand into the breast pocket of his coat
he searched his other pockets; he turned the oh
jects on his writing table The book was gone.
Moody watched him with feeling of despair "Oh
booSkS - ' ~ - ~
He sat down again at his desk, with sullen submits
sion to the disaster. "All can say Is you're a
liberty to look for IT," he replied. II must have
dropped Il somewhere" He turned impatienty Il
the foreman Now, then, what is the next checl
wanted2 l shall go mad If walt in this damned
place much longer"
Moody left him. and found his way to the servants
offices. "Mr Hardyman has lost his pocketbook," HI
said Look for 1t, indoors and out, the lawn
in the tent Ten pounds reward for the man VIII
finds It,"
Servants and walters instantly dispersed eager 70
thu promised reward. The men who pursued tn
search outside the cottage divided their forces Som
of them examined the lawn and the flower beds
others went straight to the empty tent. These las
were too completely absorbed In pursuing the 0btec
in view to notice that they disturbed dog eating
stolen lunch of his own from the morsels left tn
plates. The dog skunk away under the canvas whe
the men came In, waited in hiding until they ha
gopV then returned to the tent and went on wit
ms luncheon
Moody fastened back 20 the part of the ground
close to the shrubbery) in which Isabel was waitln
his return.
She looked a. him. while he telling her Of hi
Interview with Hardyman, with expression in he
eyes which he had never seen in them before-an el
preston which set his heart beating wildly, an
reached the end.
- 81 understand" she said quietly, as he stopped
Aconfusion you have made one more sacrifice to m
welfare. Robert, believe you the noblest ma
4 thaLeyer breathed the breath OF lfe"
Ms Eyes sank before hers; he blushed like a boy
81 have done nothing for you yet,' he said. don
despair OF the future II the pocketbook should not
found | know who the man is who received tn
bank note and have only TO find him to decide tn
question whether 10 Is the stolen note or not"
She smiled at his enthusiasm.
EArAyou going back to Mr.. Sharon to help you
shg fsKed. "That trick he played me has destroye
my Selief In him. He no more knows than do VIII
the thief really Is"
'You are mistaken, Isabel He knows and know
He stopped there and made sign to her to be silen
Dne OF the servants was approaching them.
sis the pocketbook foundr Moody asked.
"No, sir"
~ HAS Mr. Hardyman left the cottage7
ale has just gone, sir. Have you any further Il
btructions to give usP'
"No. There is my address in London II the poke
book should be found"
4 The man took the card Tat was handed to him an
retired. Moody offered las arm to Isabel ~ am
Iour SERVICE" he said, "~Aen you wish to return
our aunt"
They had advanced nearly far as the tent c
heir way out OF the grounds, when they were M
BY q gentleman walking toward them from the &C
age. He was stranger 10 Isabel Moody INN
lately recognized him as Ne. Felix Sweetsr.
"Hsk our good Moouy?' cried Felix. "Enyiab
nan! you look younger than everl" He took of
nat TO Isabel his bright. restless eyes suddenly b
anne quiet as they rested on her slave the hon
lner my best congratulations What has become
ar friend Alfredo
Moody answered for Isabel. IF you will make
ar,es at the cottage. sir" he said, "you will fl
nas Doh mistaken TO say the least Of It, in a
seeding vour n eations tn this yoO NO ladv